Bullhead City

History

The earliest inhabitants of the Colorado River Valley were the Mojave people. The rich soil and plentiful water provided the valley's natives with the necessities to create a prosperous farming community. According to Mojave legend, life began on Spirit Mountain, the highest peak visible from the Bullhead City area. The first account of European contact was with Spanish explorer Melchor Díaz, who in 1540 documented his travels in what is now northwestern Mohave County. He recounts meeting a large population of natives who referred to themselves as the Pipa Aha Macav, meaning "People by the River". From "Aha Macav" came the shortened name "Mojave" (also spelled "Mohave"). While Mohave County uses the modern English spelling, the tribe retains the traditional Spanish spelling "Mojave". Both are correct, and both are pronounced "Moh-hah-vee". Father Francisco Garces, a Franciscan missionary and explorer, crossed the Colorado River in the Bullhead City area in 1774. In March 1864, the current site of Bullhead City was the location of a settlement called "Hardyville". It was named for early resident and politician William Harrison Hardy. A New York native and an entrepreneur, Hardy established, with the support of George Alonzo Johnson's steamboat company, a ferry service and steamboat landing where the Mojave Road crossed the Colorado River. He also built and owned the Hardyville–Prescott Road, a toll road from Hardyville to the new Arizona territorial capital of Prescott, and raised Angora goats. He was a colorful and somewhat controversial figure. He was the town's first postmaster from January 17, 1865, and is credited with the invention of the riveted mail sack. He was also a Mohave County supervisor and a member of the Arizona Territorial Legislature. In 1864 his…

Geography

Bullhead City is in western Mohave County on the east side of the Colorado River, which forms the Arizona–Nevada state line. It is west of Kingman, the Mohave county seat, north of Needles, California, south of Las Vegas, Nevada, and northwest of Phoenix. According to the United States Census Bureau, Bullhead City has a total area of , of which are land and , or 1.30%, are water.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Great-tailed Grackle

  Quiscalus mexicanus (Gmelin, 1788) · Aves
  797
• Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  605
• American Coot

  Fulica americana Gmelin, 1789 · Aves
  579
• Gambel's Quail

  Callipepla gambelii (Gambel, 1843) · Aves
  508
• Rock Pigeon

  Columba livia J.F.Gmelin, 1789 · Aves
  500
• Abert's Towhee

  Melozone aberti (S.F.Baird, 1852) · Aves
  493
• Common Raven

  Corvus corax Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  435
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  425

Most recent

• M 2.64 — 2025-10-07
  20 km SW of Primm, NV
• M 2.6 — 2024-03-07
  14 km ENE of Boulder City, Nevada
• M 2.7 — 2022-12-09
  2 km NW of Valentine, Arizona
• M 2.52 — 2019-04-23
  21km SW of Primm, NV
• M 2.9 — 2015-03-02
  19 km E of Yucca, Arizona
• M 2.7 — 2014-08-04
  22 km SSE of Valentine, Arizona